A £40M Tesco development at South Bank has been given the planning go-ahead.

A £40M Tesco development at South Bank has been given the planning go-ahead.

But objectors to the scheme fear it could be the beginning of the end for many shops in the centre of Eston and Normanby.

Eston councillor Ann Higgins said: “A knife is being put through the heart of Greater Eston.”

But other councillors pointed to the benefits - including regeneration and jobs - that the new development will bring.

After a three-hour meeting Redcar and Cleveland Council’s planning committee voted 11-1 to approve the Tesco application for the site at Low Grange off the Trunk Road.

It grants planning consent for a retail store, petrol filling station, five retail units and more than 600 car parking spaces and outline consent has also been granted for a pub and a community building,

Among the objectors was Dave Fisher, who runs the Katie’s Cardz shop in Eston precinct.

He told the planning committee: “In these difficult times jobs and businesses will be sacrificed for jobs that - at present - do not exist. Our jobs and businesses are here now - but for how long?”

Mrs Pat Turner, who runs takeaway businesses in Normanby, said: “This application is being rushed through. It will sound the death knell for the Normanby shopping area.”

Stephanie Mann, who runs two shops in Eston centre, said that if the Tesco development went ahead it would be signing the death sentence for Eston and Normanby.

Brian Honeywell, chairman of Normanby Community Forum said: “If this Tesco store takes off then shops will close.”

Peter Torrible, planning consultant for the Lady Hewley Trust, which has land earmarked for housing next to the Tesco site, said the Trust wanted to see a single access for the store and the residential development to tie the two developments together but Tesco now proposed to have an access only to its store site.

“Under this proposal residents of 1,000 houses would have to exit the housing site into the Trunk Road and then enter the Tesco site a further 100m down the road. That is nonsense,” he said.

Grangetown resident Chris Wilkins said: “Hundreds of residents have attended consultation events and they are all for it.”

Danny Ackroyd of South Bank Tomorrow said the development was needed to kickstart regeneration and Linda Fleetham, manager of South Bank Tomorrow said significant investment was needed to create a thriving community.

Cllr Higgins expressed her fears about the effect the development would have on businesses in the area and she forecast that “Eston would become a satellite town of takeaways.”

But South Bank councillors backed the plan.

Councillor Ian Jeffrey said: “South Bank has been in terminal decline since the recessions of the 1980s. Regeneration is desperately needed.”

Councillor Sue Jeffrey said: “Mitigating efforts have to take place to ensure it does not have the effect some people fear.

Councillor Sylvia Szintai said South Bank needed to build again.

Matt Magee, Tesco’s regional corporate affairs manager, said half of the 450 jobs would be targeted at long term unemployed in the area. A further 80 jobs would be created in others parts of the development.

He said there had been overwhelming support from the local community and Tesco was committed to having an ongoing, close relationship with local communities.

Councillor Billy Ayre, the only planning committee member to oppose the application, said efforts had been made for years to get a supermarket into Eston. If Tesco went ahead it would jeopardise the chance of a similar business moving into Eston.

He pointed to the effect on Eston and Normanby shops of a local bank closing and a doctors surgery moving to the Trunk Road.

“If the Tesco development goes ahead they can put up the Normanby Closed For Business signs,” said Cllr Ayre.

But Councillor Richard Rudland said the Tesco development would be a catalyst for regeneration.

“The threat to existing shops will not be as great as some people have said. Supermarkets can bring extra trade for local shops.